Support College After Incarceration

“Remove the criminal convictions question(s) from the initial application process.”

Petitioning: Maryland General Assembly, Maryland Independent College & University Assoc., and University System of Maryland.

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Demand that your school and other universities/colleges in Maryland provide an application that does not include the discriminatory "box" nor ask applicants any question(s) pertaining to past guilt or conviction of a misdemeanor, felony, or other prior offense in the initial application process.

Statistics Support College After Incarceration: The national recidivism rate (1) drops from 76% to 5.6% if an individual obtains a bachelor’s degree and below 1% with a Masters degree (2,3). Most crimes on campus are committed by people with no prior convictions (4).

Thus, as a public safety strategy, universities and colleges should be doing everything they can to promote access to higher education – not create more barriers.

Support this Petition: Job Opportunities Task Force in partnership with From Prison Cells to Phd and other organizations insist that you support “Ban the Box on College Applications.” Sign the petition here.

People make mistakes, and people deserve second chances. Unfortunately, people who have made poor decisions in the past and are trying to better themselves by pursuing higher education face a major barrier: a box that they must check disclosing their criminal history on college applications.

By requiring applicants to disclose their criminal history, universities impose an unnecessary and discriminatory barrier to education. This process reduces the applicant to the mere moment when they incurred a criminal record rather than seeing the full person with all of their interests, skills, and experiences.

Asking about criminal history on college applications is not a practice grounded in empirical evidence and does not promote public safety. Studies show that college education during or after prison helps individuals reintegrate into society and reduces the chance they will end up back in prison.

Information:

RALLY FOR JUSTICE AND EDUCATION

We will gather Saturday, October 7th, to rally in support of the Maryland Fair Access to Education Act of 2017, which passed with strong bi-partisan support in the Senate and the House last legislative session, until being vetoed by Governor Hogan. In early 2018 the General Assembly will vote to override this veto, and we need your support!

Featured Speakers: Maryland Policy Advocates

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Join us! Help spread the word and gain the support of higher education institutions in Maryland! There will be FREE food and community resources for all to enjoy.

Reality Check: What is “the Box”

Access to Higher Education is a human right. It can be transformative and it:1. Enables social mobility2. Reduces poverty and provides access to well-paying jobs3. Helps people develop a professional identity and provides life opportunities4. Promotes critical thinking and analytical skills5. Reduces recidivism and strengthens communities

Criminal History Screenings in college admissions create barriers to these opportunities for formerly incarcerated people.

Mass Incarceration: In the United States, the prison system has grown by over 700% since 1980 and there are currently 2.3 million people in prison (5). Mass incarceration disparately impacts people of color. Black men are seven times more likely to be incarcerated than white men (6).

Collateral Consequences: Formerly incarcerated individuals face barriers to accessing services, as well as restrictions on where they may work or live. These collateral consequences can range from denial of worker’s compensation to exclusion from public housing, and can impede successful reentry. There are more than 1,000 laws outlining the long-term consequences of criminal conviction in New York (7). See PCtP Blog here: http://fromprisoncellstophd.org/pctp-blog

On One’s Own Merit: Research shows that (of colleges surveyed) 66% screen applicants for criminal history, and private institutions are more likely to collect and use the data in admissions decisions than public and two-year institutions (8). This leads to some applicants being denied access to education based on something other than their academic qualifications.Lack of Evidence: There is no empirical evidence demonstrating that students with criminal records pose a greater safety risk on campus than those who do not.

Unnecessary Hurdles: Some colleges require applicants to obtain their criminal history records at their own expense. These records contain information that has been sealed, charges that have been dismissed, or information that has otherwise been deemed legally confidential, such as Youthful Offender adjudications, which admissions officials have no legal right to view.

Colleges and Universities Lack Consistent Screening Policies and ProceduresJust six percent of schools responding to a survey conducted by the Center for Community Alternatives report that their admissions process is identical for applicants with and without criminal records. 47.1% of higher education institutions lack a written policy regarding the admissions of applicants with criminal records.

Requirements vary by institution: 90% of institutions require a letter of explanation 63.2% require a letter from a corrections official 54.2% require a personal interview 38.5% require completion of community supervision 15.2% of respondents require applicants to submit rap sheets to institutions

Higher Education Reduces Recidivism (10):Nationally, 43.3% of formerly incarcerated individuals are likely to return to prison within three years of release. The recidivism rate drops dramatically with access to higher education: Masters: less than 1% Baccalaureates: 5.6% Associates: 13.7%

SHARE YOUR STORY

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Are you formerly incarcerated? Do you know someone who is?

Share your story about your/their struggles and triumphs accessing higher education after incarceration! How did access to higher education help transform your/their life? What types of barriers did you/they face when trying to access higher education after incarceration?

Participating in this video campaign is an opportunity for you to voice your personal experience about this systemic issue. Read on for details and instructions about how to create and submit your video and be part of this important campaign on your campus and across the nation.